Career Girl Network » Women Who Rockhttp://careergirlnetwork.com
Mon, 20 Jul 2015 23:28:01 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3A Real-Life Career Girl: Interview with Shauna Mackenzie, CEO of Best Kept Selfhttp://careergirlnetwork.com/real-life-career-girl-interview-shauna-mackenzie-serial-entrepreneur-ceo-best-kept-self/
http://careergirlnetwork.com/real-life-career-girl-interview-shauna-mackenzie-serial-entrepreneur-ceo-best-kept-self/#commentsMon, 07 Jul 2014 14:31:27 +0000http://careergirlnetwork.com/?p=28443I came across Shauna Mackenzie through an obvious form of free advertising, social media and became intrigued after reading about her and her business savvy career. She may be best known for her work in image consulting, but Mackenzie is also a fearless leader in the business world. She bravely started her first business at […]

I came across Shauna Mackenzie through an obvious form of free advertising, social media and became intrigued after reading about her and her business savvy career. She may be best known for her work in image consulting, but Mackenzie is also a fearless leader in the business world. She bravely started her first business at the age of 22 in 2007, Best Kept Self (formerly Mackenzie Image consulting), which she describes as a “one-stop-shop for women looking to feel, look and live more confident.” “We offer traditional one-on-one virtual/live consultations in the areas of style, nutrition coaching,” says Mackenzie, “and even coaching for working moms in addition to online program, challenges and webinars.”

Mackenzie also owns The Studio for Image Professionals, which opened in 2010 and is a company catering to aspiring image consultants and personal stylists. “I was being asked by other people how to get into the field,” says Mackenzie. “So after three years of being in the field, I decided to enter the training side of the industry and roll out workshops and online classes for people to learn how to become an image consultant. Now, we not only provide workshops [live and online] but offer a six week certification school that is run twice a year so people can walk away with credentials to start their business.”

Perhaps what impressed me the most is her ability to continue to invest in herself, even while running successful businesses, something I hope to achieve one day. Mackenzie, who received her undergraduate degree in Communication and Entrepreneurship from the University of Iowa, just recently, also obtained her master’s from Gonzaga University in Communication and Leadership. While she acknowledges that gender is sometimes an issue in today’s business world, Mackenzie says she rarely thinks about it. “There’s been only a small handful of instances where these dynamics [being a woman in business] have come into play in my career,” said Mackenzie. “I’m surrounded by some pretty awesome men who seem to ‘get it.’ I also do believe that there are plenty of supportive men out there who definitely appreciate and admire the women who are doing great work.

She married her husband in March 2013, whom she sees as “the best husband in the world.” While they both self-employed, Mackenzie says they have to separate themselves from work to focus on each other, which also benefits each of their careers, giving them time to “refresh, recharge and get reinspired”. “I do my best to check-in with myself to make sure I’m not overwhelmed, saying yes to too many things, and to simplify my life,” says Mackenzie. “I find that balance comes so much easier when you simplify and streamline in as much ways as you can.”

I couldn’t help but ask Ms. Mackenzie what she thought about the current state of women’s progress and what her take was on the whole “women in the workplace” debate. She admits that women being underpaid, undervalued and not recognized nearly as much as men, is an “obvious reality.” “We can’t ignore that,” says Mackenzie. “But we also can’t assume that the responsibility for changing does not fall on us women as individuals. Women need to be comfortable feeling like they are of value first before this can change. We need to be okay with knowing we are great, with feeling we are great and with letting people know we are great.” (Insert applause here).

Mackenzie attributes her success to “the people around and surrounding myself with people that are positive, forward-thinking, and actively staying open to criticism, feedback and suggestions for change.” Mackenzie says that there is no perfect time to start a business, you just need to start. “I see a lot of women stall their business launch because the website doesn’t look the way they want it or they don’t love their business cards. In the beginning, the most important thing to do is do. The other things will fall in line once you gain momentum and start bringing in revenue. Sometimes it’s okay to settle – especially in these early moments when you’re just beginning. You’re settling for the sake of doing and that’s the exact reason you won’t have to settle in the future.”

For more information on Mackenzie’s image consulting, visit www.bestlkeptself.com .

You got this.

]]>http://careergirlnetwork.com/you_got_this/feed/08 Truths Career Girl’s Need from Maya Angelouhttp://careergirlnetwork.com/8-truths-career-girls-need-learn-maya-angelou/
http://careergirlnetwork.com/8-truths-career-girls-need-learn-maya-angelou/#commentsSun, 01 Jun 2014 21:14:04 +0000http://careergirlnetwork.com/?p=28140The world lost a legendary author, poet, essayist, actress and activist when Maya Angelou passed away at the age of 86 last Wednesday. The outpouring of tributes from celebrities and millions on social media continues to show the importance of the legacy she left behind. She believed in living life and helping others. In her […]

The world lost a legendary author, poet, essayist, actress and activist when Maya Angelou passed away at the age of 86 last Wednesday. The outpouring of tributes from celebrities and millions on social media continues to show the importance of the legacy she left behind. She believed in living life and helping others. In her work, there are numerous truths that many quote and live by today. Here are eight of those truths that every Career Girl should apply not just in her career, but in life.

I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.

You may not control all of the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them.

People will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

Nothing will work unless you do.

Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it.

]]>http://careergirlnetwork.com/8-truths-career-girls-need-learn-maya-angelou/feed/04 LESSONS FROM THE BRILLIANT CAREER OF SHONDA RHIMEShttp://careergirlnetwork.com/four-lessons-from-brilliant-career-shonda-rhimes/
http://careergirlnetwork.com/four-lessons-from-brilliant-career-shonda-rhimes/#commentsMon, 05 May 2014 11:00:13 +0000http://careergirlnetwork.com/?p=27832Shonda Rhimes is probably one of the famous TV writers our time. Despite being a woman, and an African-American woman at that, Rhimes has broken through many barriers. In her early successes, Rhimes wrote the screenplay for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, which earned actress Halle Berry an Emmy and Golden Globe award, and other films including […]

Shonda Rhimes is probably one of the famous TV writers our time. Despite being a woman, and an African-American woman at that, Rhimes has broken through many barriers. In her early successes, Rhimes wrote the screenplay for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, which earned actress Halle Berry an Emmy and Golden Globe award, and other films including Crossroads and The Princess Diaries series. Rhimes’s career is on fire now with hit TV shows Grey’s Anatomy, which is in its tenth season, political thriller Scandal, which just wrapped up its third season, and other rumored projects in the works.

Here are four career lessons from Shonda Rhimes career:

Don’t give up. While she has had many successes in Hollywood, Rhimes has also had her share of rejections including failed TV series and scripts that weren’t picked up. The 2011 medical drama she wrote, Off The Map, was cancelled the same year.

Know when it’s time to part ways. Katherine Heigl, who portrayed Dr. Izzie Stevens on Grey’s Anatomy, won an Emmy for that role in 2007. After her name was submitted again for Emmy consideration, she withdrew her name, citing that she didn’t believe she had been given “the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination,” seemingly throwing shade to the writers of Grey’s. Later in 2012, when Oprah asked Rhimes about the incident, she admitted that she wasn’t surprised but also replied, “When people show you who they are, believe them.’ I carry that with me a lot. It has served me well.” Rhimes released Heigl from her contract in 2010 based on an “agreement” she and Heigl supposedly came to.

Using social media to garner a fan base is genius. Every week during brand new episodes, Rhimes, the writers of her TV shows as well as the stars of them hold live Twitter chats with their viewers and fans. (I know, because I’m one of the fans who live chats with them!) Engaging your fans, (or “gladiators” as the stars of Scandal call them) keeps them involved, thus keeping them watching the show.

You can have a booming career and a family. Not only is Rhimes a working mom, she is a single working mom. She adopted two girls and had a third daughter via gestational surrogacy. And she has no spouse to speak of. The night she announced the arrival of her third daughter, she tweeted, “Life is good.#2shows3kids”. Rhimes continued achievements prove that although being a working mom may be difficult, it can be done.

]]>http://careergirlnetwork.com/four-lessons-from-brilliant-career-shonda-rhimes/feed/0Beyond Money And Power: What It Really Takes To Succeedhttp://careergirlnetwork.com/redefining_success/
http://careergirlnetwork.com/redefining_success/#commentsWed, 09 Apr 2014 16:00:00 +0000http://careergirlnetwork.com/?p=25587 Ever looked up an old friend or colleague on LinkedIn or Facebook just to see where they are – and then find yourself satisfied if you deem yourself better off, or disappointed with yourself if not? In today’s world of comparison and competition, it’s no surprise that we measure success off external and social […]

Ever looked up an old friend or colleague on LinkedIn or Facebook just to see where they are – and then find yourself satisfied if you deem yourself better off, or disappointed with yourself if not? In today’s world of comparison and competition, it’s no surprise that we measure success off external and social cues, and often times forget to question whether we are achieving so-called success at the expense of the other things (and people) that matter.

Traditionally, success has been defined in terms of money and power – think promotions, raises, bonuses, the privilege of working with the higher-ups – and of course comparing our status to that of our peers. Arianna Huffington proposes redefining success in a more holistic way. In order to truly thrive, she argues that we must go beyond money and power and work on elements related to personal well-being and fulfillment. She calls this the “third metric.”

I wrote about her concept of “leaning back” about a year ago, but since then Arianna has fleshed out this idea even more in her new book, Thrive. Last week she spoke at NYU about the details of her new book, and specifically the third metric. She breaks it down into four components:

Well Being

After many years in a profession that rewarded around-the-clock work, eating lunch at your desk and answering emails no matter what time of night, this one hit home for me. The fact is, we make bad decisions when we’re burnt out – and we are much more successful at work when we take care of ourselves. And now we’ve got the studies and data to prove it (see Chapter 1 to get started!).

Arianna told us about her own wake-up call when she fainted and broke her jaw bone due to absolute exhaustion. She urged the audience to use her story as a cautionary tale, rather than wait for their own personal disaster to serve as the wake-up call to understand the importance of well-being and health.

Wisdom

This is all about being wise, not just smart – learning to be present, examining the addiction to technology (admit it – you sleep with your phone!) and giving up multi-tasking (as she spoke, there were still some people in the audience that were checking email, tweeting or otherwise playing with their phones).

I also loved this bit of wisdom about prioritizing. Arianna told us “You can always complete a project by dropping it.” She spoke about how we often times put so much unnecessary pressure on ourselves. In her case, she wanted to learn to ski and become fluent in Spanish. At some point, she decided that skiing was not a priority and she dropped it without any guilt. The lesson: It’s okay to change your mind and rearrange your priorities. If something is no longer working for you, there’s no need to finish it just because you started it. (hat tip to Mom who has always told me this!)

Wonder

This one is all about bringing joy back to our daily lives, rather than delaying the fun and happiness for another time. Who hasn’t said they’ll have some fun or take a vacation after they get promoted, finish the project, etc.?

But by putting the joy back into our everyday lives, the stress becomes more manageable. It’s all about choosing your attitude, since while you can’t choose what happens to you, you can choose how you react to it.

As Arianna said:

Your eulogy has nothing to do with your LinkedIn profile. At your funeral, no one will talk about the deals you closed and the market share you gained – but they will remember the type of person you were and how you made them feel.

Giving

The science shows that giving doesn’t just make us happier, but it also decreases inflammation (which if left unchecked, leads to disease and health issues). So generosity doesn’t just feel good, it is actually healthy for us! I love the way she put it when she said:

We are wired to not just be go-getters, but go-givers as well.

Baby Steps

Thrive is divided into a chapter for each of the third metric components, with suggested small changes at the end of each chapter. These small baby steps – 5 minutes of meditation, starting a gratitude list or taking a minute to connect with the cashier, can make a big difference – and put us on the right path towards achieving authentic success.

]]>http://careergirlnetwork.com/redefining_success/feed/2What’s in a Word? Gender Stereotypes.http://careergirlnetwork.com/ban-bossy-gender-stereotypes/
http://careergirlnetwork.com/ban-bossy-gender-stereotypes/#commentsThu, 13 Mar 2014 23:00:00 +0000http://careergirlnetwork.com/?p=25494Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and author of the bestselling book, Lean In, has teamed up with the Girl Scouts to raise gender-inequality awareness and #banbossy. In an op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal, Sandberg shares her personal experience with being called bossy as a young girl: When I was in junior high and […]

Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and author of the bestselling book, Lean In, has teamed up with the Girl Scouts to raise gender-inequality awareness and #banbossy.

In an op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal, Sandberg shares her personal experience with being called bossy as a young girl:

When I was in junior high and running for class vice president, one of my teachers pulled my best friend aside to warn her not to follow my example: “Nobody likes a bossy girl,” the teacher warned. “You should find a new friend who will be a better influence on you.

The focal point of Sandberg’s campaign is to ban the word bossy. The hash tag, #banbossy, has gone viral on Facebook and Twitter, but the overarching message of the campaign is much more powerful than banning one word.

The word bossy is an adjective used to describe someone who is domineering, authoritarian, and even dictatorial. The problem Sandberg is trying to highlight is that when a woman decides to speak up, be assertive or ambitious, she is often referred to as ‘bossy’ by her peers.

This issue is largely caused by established culture norms. Children are actually quite similar before they’ve been conditioned to believe otherwise. In an article from The Guardian JillFilipovicwrites,

Kids, as it turns out, are much more alike than they are different, and many of the differences between men’s brains and women’s brains are attributable to gendered cultural stimuli. Segregating the way children play and socialize, and policing their behavior along gender lines, shapes cognitive development.

#BanBossy is a great place for women and men to start taking a stand against the outlets that deliver these messages. Luckily, Sandberg isn’t the only woman who’s speaking out against gender inequality. The Geena Davis Institute on Gender Media is an excellent source to view research and learn about the gender stereotypes that bombard men and women everyday via media, specifically children’s media.

So, I’ll leave you with a quote from a Forbes article written by Micheline Maynard that discusses the even bigger problem:

…women at all levels of society face discrimination. They face the threat of abuse. Their economic power still sadly trails that of men, despite the efforts by Sandberg and others to increase women’s authority. Those are far greater issues than a word that may or may not be hurtful.

While we all need to continue to #BanBossy, we must remember that this campaign is only a jumping off point for empowering women everywhere to pursue their ambitions and never back down.

]]>http://careergirlnetwork.com/ban-bossy-gender-stereotypes/feed/0No Need to Mince Wordshttp://careergirlnetwork.com/are-you-a-feminst/
http://careergirlnetwork.com/are-you-a-feminst/#commentsMon, 10 Mar 2014 23:00:00 +0000http://careergirlnetwork.com/?p=27030We know our very own Kathi Toll carries strong views on the current state of feminism, but last week she concluded a three-week series with a particularly entertaining post. A few weeks ago I wrote a post that simply asked, Are you a feminist? The word is so loaded with different interpretations that I find more […]

The word is so loaded with different interpretations that I find more and more women opt to skirt the question rather than offer a definitive answer. This frustrates me to no end, especially when celebrities and style icons behave this way. Last week, I called out Victoria Beckham on her dodgeball version of an answer that finally ended with a No, I’m not a feminist.She took a convoluted route, which entailed reiterating she’s big fan Sheryl Sandberg, but stuck with her negative response anyway.

This week we pray tribute to a woman who answers with a resoundingYes! I am a feministwith her words and actions. In fact, over the last few months she’s taken several opportunities to set people in their place when she feels an inequity in her treatment compared to men.

]]>http://careergirlnetwork.com/are-you-a-feminst/feed/0In Case of Emergency: Read This Before Giving Uphttp://careergirlnetwork.com/read_this_before_giving_up/
http://careergirlnetwork.com/read_this_before_giving_up/#commentsWed, 22 Jan 2014 21:00:00 +0000http://careergirlnetwork.com/?p=20501We’ve all seen those “In Case of Emergency” signs – you know, the ones where you have to break glass (or nowadays, pull away the plastic covering) to get to the fire.alarm, pull the emergency break on a train or open the emergency exit door on a plane… Too bad there isn’t a similar device […]

We’ve all seen those “In Case of Emergency” signs – you know, the ones where you have to break glass (or nowadays, pull away the plastic covering) to get to the fire.alarm, pull the emergency break on a train or open the emergency exit door on a plane…

Too bad there isn’t a similar device for personal disasters, when everything seems to be going wrong and you wonder if you should give up. But this comes pretty close. I came across this peptalk-kick-in-the-butt-poem in Danielle LaPorte’s recently released The Desire Map, a book about setting “goals with soul.”

So here it is. Read this in times of distress, when you are facing a seemingly insurmountable goal and want to give up. It’s perfect for any tough challenge whether it be getting through marathon training, studying for a big test, or making a major career change. You can do it!

Decide To Rise

There are Soul-justified reasons to cancel. There are times to just stop.
This isn’t one of them. Keep going. Show up. Full on. Full tilt. Full out.
Decide to be one of those people who pull it off.

Do what you say you’re going to do.
Don’t let us down.
Decide to rise.

Why decide to rise?
Not for the reasons you might think.
In fact, these are the reasons that will make you sick and tired:
Do not rise out of obligation.
Do not rise because of feared consequences.
Do not rise because you think being tough
makes you smarter (it doesn’t).

Decide to rise because you want to expand – your being, your life,
your possibilities. Decide to rise because superpowers are meant to
be activated and applied in everyday life.

Decide to rise to explore your place in the universe.

On the other side of deciding to rise is illumination, ecstasy, insight.
And the angel of your strength is there waiting, smiling, applauding,
with a goblet of endorphins for you.
Drink up!

When you transcend circumstances you get special privileges.
You get evidence that you are indeed amazing, and irrefutable proof
that what your heart and mind choose is what matters.

And you get the deep knowing that life wants you to win.

Decide to rise.

Lean in. Listen up. Closely.
It’s your Soul speaking, and she says,

Get UP!I need you.I want you.I am you.

Choose me.

Lean in.Listen up.Closely.

Decide to rise.xxx

If you’re interested in a fresh approach to goals, definitely add The Desire Map to your reading list – great book with both a theory and workbook section. The above poem can be found on p.100 – 101.

]]>http://careergirlnetwork.com/read_this_before_giving_up/feed/1“Boundless Energy For the Work” – A Conversation with Gail Robinsonhttp://careergirlnetwork.com/conversation-with-gail-robinson/
http://careergirlnetwork.com/conversation-with-gail-robinson/#commentsFri, 17 Jan 2014 21:00:00 +0000http://careergirlnetwork.com/?p=24271 I recently had the opportunity to reconnect with one of my Career Girl role models (and first boss) Gail Robinson. Robinson had reached out to me with an announcement of a new venture, the Failure Fixer, a multi platform diet and exercise consulting business. The announcement of Robinson’s new endeavor came as no surprise, […]

I recently had the opportunity to reconnect with one of my Career Girl role models (and first boss) Gail Robinson. Robinson had reached out to me with an announcement of a new venture, the Failure Fixer, a multi platform diet and exercise consulting business. The announcement of Robinson’s new endeavor came as no surprise, as she is closing in on almost seven decades of entrepreneurial success.

In 1984, working in her home kitchen with her two daughters, Robinson founded Mrs. Prindable’s Carmel Apples. The project was no naïve home-cook-makes-it-big success story. A savvy business-woman rather than a chef, Robinson foresaw the beginnings of the fine-foods trend of the 1980s, and identified a notable lack in the market place. She describes sitting in the library for “three months straight” researching recipes and cooking over 150 trial batches of caramel until she settled on her winning mix. The investment paid off. At its peak, Mrs. Prindable’s employed 300 people in two facilities, crafting hand-dipped treats for the international market. The family company was a hit on the home shopping channel QVC, and became a household name. In 1999, Robinson sold the business to Chicago gourmet apple company Affy Tapple, which continue to produce the brand today. Gail Robinson’s next project, a gourmet chocolate store and corporate gift service, found success from 2000 to 2005 before being sold to a major American confectionery company. Robinson describes herself as a “serial entrepreneur,” and I am impressed by the way in which she is able to envision her market opportunities and also engineer seamless (and often lucrative) conclusions to her business ventures.

Gail Robinson, Author and Entrepreneur, Founder of The Failure Fixer

On the phone from Failure Fixer headquarters in Arizona I asked Robinson about achieving her long career.

On getting an early start

“It’s in my blood. I sold my school photos in kindergarten to my family and friends. 10 cents a photo!”

On identifying role models:

In the late 1950s, at 17 years old, Robinson went to work for a fabric company in Skokie, IL. She vividly remembers the experience of seeing a woman who worked in management for the company, smartly dressed in a men’s suit, briefcase, and hat. The woman was a striking visual that Robinson kept in her mind throughout her life. “I wanted to be her. Tough, strong, independent.” Robinson suggests that young women allow themselves to be inspired by one another. “Join women’s organizations, she suggests, “Find someone you want to become.”

On the Woman’s Movement:

As daughter of a working woman of the 1940s, Robinson describes the deep influence of the women’s movement on her thinking. In the early 60’s she brought her own young daughters out to march for women’s equality. Early on, Robinson decided her own contribution to the movement would be personal –she would educate her traditional husband about a woman’s abilities – and to do so she would claim a spot for herself in the workplace. (The plan worked, as Robinson and her husband have celebrated over 50 years of partnership in marriage and business.)

On Moving Up

One of Robinson’s first jobs was as a food broker for Nieman Marcus, and she is proud to say that she was the first women hired by the company for such a high-level position. After much success, she asked “What’s next?” and was informed by her bosses that “There is no next for you.” At the time, there was no vehicle for promotion– no additional level that they were prepared to place a woman. She rightly walked out. Robinson advises women today to articulate clearly to their management “I need to do more than you expect of me.”

On Starting a Business

Robinson resolved that she would be a business owner, that she could avoid being blocked by others if she served as her own boss. Though she did not yet know what her business would be, she opened her own office. “You make a commitment,” she advises young women, “even if you don’t know to what… other than yourself. I said, ‘I am investing in Gail’ and I just printed business cards.”

On Technology

When I worked with Robinson in 2002-2003, I found her to be the most inspiring marketer and promoter I had ever met. She effortlessly garnered press and struck a rapport with everyone in her store. I wondered, what is her take on the social marketing revolution of the last decade? “Its not really a new world.” she assures me “These are simply the tools of the time. You use every tool that the times offer. There will be more tools in the future, and we’ll all use those too. Personal involvement and a clear personal voice wins out. Its the ideas that are everything.”

Advice to Young Entrepreneurs:

Robinson cautions young entrepreneurs to help one another without giving their ideas away. “Keep it close to the vest. There are people out there who will invest in you. Ideas are the commodity, and companies have proven time-and-time-again that they have more money than ideas. Robinson encourages young women to brave through rejection. “I prove to myself that my ideas are great ideas, that they have value and I do not allow myself to get blocked by others. I’ve found I have boundless energy for the work itself. Whatever you are going to do, as long as you put in the work – it will have value.”

]]>http://careergirlnetwork.com/conversation-with-gail-robinson/feed/0Executive Presence – Should We Ditch Our Ladylike Qualities In Order To Be Successful?http://careergirlnetwork.com/executive_presence_and_female_qualities/
http://careergirlnetwork.com/executive_presence_and_female_qualities/#commentsWed, 20 Nov 2013 17:00:00 +0000http://careergirlnetwork.com/?p=20492Sheryl Sandberg, Oprah Winfrey, Arianna Huffington and Sonia Sotomayor – When you think of these women, what comes to mind? They are very different people, in diverse professions with unique objectives. What they all have in common, though, is their ability to command a room and inspire others to examine their beliefs, challenge the status […]

Sheryl Sandberg, Oprah Winfrey, Arianna Huffington and Sonia Sotomayor – When you think of these women, what comes to mind? They are very different people, in diverse professions with unique objectives. What they all have in common, though, is their ability to command a room and inspire others to examine their beliefs, challenge the status quo and take action. They are respected as experts in their domain and admired by many. They have executive presence.

I recently attended a workshop for women on developing executive presence. We covered many topics you’d expect, including the importance of self-confidence, body language, tone of voice and preparation.

The part of the program that was not on the agenda, however, was most interesting. There was a heated discussion over whether or not it was appropriate for businesswomen to smile or be too nurturing. On the opposite end of the spectrum, some feared coming across as too harsh, so as to be called the “B” word. This got me thinking – are femininity and executive presence mutually exclusive?

What Is Executive Presence?

But first, let’s define executive presence. Business Insider calls out the 7 “Cs” of executive presence: composure, connection, charisma, confidence, credibility, clarity and conciseness. And in an interview with Marie Claire, Sylvia Ann Hewlett, founder of Center for Talent Innovation, described the three pillars of executive presence as how you look, how you speak and how you behave.

The ability to projectgravitas–confidence, poise under pressure and decisiveness –…, communication – including speaking skills, assertiveness and the ability to read an audience or situation – andappearancecontribute to a person’s perceived executive presence.

Female Qualities – A Workplace Curse?

Certain qualities typically attributed to women clearly do not serve us in this area. For example, those of us with a naturally soft or high-pitched voice must learn to control our tone, speaking loudly enough for all to hear and in a manner that does not make our sentences sound like questions.

Another area where some of us need work is body language. After all, the go-to position for a “lady” is legs crossed and arms by our sides or in our lap. But in order to convey confidence, it is important to adopt a self-assured posture and position, standing (or sitting) tall, shoulders back, uncrossed arms…and yes, taking a seat at the boardroom table instead of finding a spot out of the line of fire (and influence!) at the periphery of the room.

Or Blessing…

While the above examples are important for developing presence (for both men and women) they are specific to cultivating and portraying confidence. So what about other characteristics traditionally attributed to females such as friendliness, collaboration, emotional intelligence and overall warmth – should we also tone down, or altogether eliminate, these traits in an effort to exude more presence?

Rather than act as hindrance, I believe these qualities can actually provide an edge in business, allowing us to more naturally and authentically connect with others, feel out a crowd and confidently get buy-in from the team, board or shareholders. This ability to command a room and inspire others to take action towards a common goal is an irrefutable sign of executive presence.

Final Thoughts

There was a time, not too long ago, when women felt they had to dress like men in order to be taken seriously at work. That seems ridiculous to many of us now, but abandoning our positive feminine traits in favor of an inauthentic masculine version is really no different.

Rather than try to fit ourselves into traditional molds of success and influence that pre-date women entering the workforce, we should remember that it is the diversity of skills, experiences and yes – personal qualities – that allow companies to be both better run and more profitable.

What are your thoughts? Do you believe it is possible for a woman to be both feminine and have a strong executive presence?